The winter storms and massive amounts of ice on the roads couldn’t delay this Big Ten Conference game. And the fans in attendance imitated that of a sold-out crowd.
Indiana earned their third conference win of the season with a 60-57 over 18th-ranked Minnesota.
Tom Pritchard came out firing from the tip. Pritchard was a different man tonight. He was active, tenacious and feisty. This was his best game since freshman year. He was big on the boards with his never-quit attitude. Three tip-ins and this monstrous dunk. Pritchard finished a perfect 5-5 from the field, 2-2 at the charity stripe and, season-high 12 points and 7 rebounds.
Victor Oladipo also got the crowd going with a powerful slam…that he also got a tech for hanging on the rim but Blake Hoffarber, who seems like a 15-year veteran, missed both free throws.
Crean also mentioned Jordan Hulls’ play. Jordan doesn’t hit a three (0-5), but scored eights points and dished out six assists in his 37 minutes of play. It would be hard to argue that this is Jordan Hulls’ team now.
The lineup was different. Hulls, Rivers, Sheehey, Pritchard and Elston. Who would have foreseen this group playing together nonetheless being the starting lineup. Indiana was just 3-13 from three-point range in the first half and 2-11 in the 2nd half.
But that’s what the Hoosiers have battled through before and will the remainder of the season without Creek and Watford. Jeremiah Rivers limped off the court holding his left knee…hopefully that is okay.
The big difference came at the free throw line where Indiana went 13-15 compared to Minnesota’s 11-22.
Indiana never trailed and their biggest lead of 16 came midway thru the 2nd half. But Minnesota threatened with a 20-5 run until the final three minutes when IU took command. With 5.8 seconds remaining, the Gophers sent the ball into Hoffarber who miss handled the ball and just got a shot up in closing seconds.
This was an impressive win from Indiana’s standpoint, as they were able to keep their lead until the clock hit :00. Just like the football team, this young group had trouble “finishing.”
Without Guy Marc-Michel, without Maurice Creek, without Christian Watford and with a 50% Verdell Jones, somehow Indiana managed to pull off the victory. This is IU’s second win over a ranked opponent in six days.
Again, Hoosiers fans celebrate…this time more appropriately.
Tom Crean rightfully so was ecstatic about the victory, as was junior Tom Pritchard.
For all of Indiana’s struggles over the last three years, tonight’s win makes it 5 of last 6 over Minnesota at Assembly Hall. The 6th man brought it. And the Hoosiers improve to 10-0 at home when students are on campus.